Interior configuration for an aircraft cabin

ABSTRACT

This layout comprises a set ( 18 ) of aircraft seats arranged in an aircraft cabin.  
     Each set comprises two rows of seats ( 8 ) arranged transversely in relation to the longitudinal axis ( 2 ) of the cabin in which they are located and a single longitudinal aisle ( 16 ) allows access to the transverse rows.  
     The two transverse rows are arranged opposite one another and a transverse aisle ( 20 ) separates the two rows of seats ( 8 ).  
     In each row of seats, at least one seat ( 8 ) is located on one side of the longitudinal aisle ( 16 ) and at least two seats ( 8 ) are located on the other side of the longitudinal aisle ( 16 ).

This invention relates to an interior layout of a cabin of an aircraftsuch as an airplane, for example. It relates more particularly to aseries of seats, possibly convertible to beds, arranged inside anaircraft cabin.

In order to attract more passengers, the airline companies have atendency to increase the comfort offered to the passengers during anairplane trip. In general, this increase in comfort means that a largerprivate space is set aside for each passenger. To meet the demands ofthe clientele, it is even known to put in a partition around a seat toseparate the passenger sitting on this seat from the neighboringpassengers. The document WO-96/18537 thus shows such a seat combinedwith such a partition.

Such modules for passengers have been known for equipping luxury spaces,also called “first class” spaces. In order to be able also to adaptthese modules to less luxurious spaces, usually designated as “businessclass” spaces, it has been proposed in document WO-00/21831 to combinein a particular manner two modules such as the one described in documentWO-96/18537 in a special way in order to save room and thus place agreater number of modules in a given space of an aircraft cabin.

This invention then has the purpose of providing a combination of seatsequipped or not equipped with a partition, which makes it possible tooptimize the space available in an aircraft cabin for housing thegreatest possible number of seats. When these seats are equipped with apartition at least partially surrounding them, this invention also hasthe purpose of providing an optimal form of this partition suitable forthe arrangement of the seats according to the invention.

To this end, it proposes a series of aircraft seats in an aircraft cabincomprising two rows of seats arranged transversely in relation to thelongitudinal axis of the cabin in which they are located, a singlelongitudinal aisle permitting access to the transverse rows.

According to the invention, the two transverse rows are arrangedopposite one another, a transverse aisle separates the two rows ofseats, and in each row of seats at least one seat is on one side of thelongitudinal aisle and at least two seats are on the other side of thelongitudinal aisle.

This series of seats makes it possible to optimize the available spacein an aircraft cabin, being capable of accommodating passengers at leastthree abreast. It suffices to arrange next to each other as many seriesof seats such as defined hereinabove as needed to lay out a section ofan aircraft cabin. If room is still available, but not enough for aseries of seats, arranging a row of seats in the remaining availablespace possibly may be considered as well. The seats in such a series areeasily accessible to the passengers. Thus a passenger can access hisseat or leave it without having to disturb a neighboring passenger. Aseries of seats according to this invention therefore makes it possible,with a single longitudinal aisle, to have this advantage for thepassengers to be able to move about freely without having to apologizeto one or more neighboring passengers. Finally, the use of series ofseats according to the invention for the interior layout of an aircraftcabin makes it possible to facilitate traffic inside this cabin. As amatter of fact, by virtue of the transverse aisles it becomes possibleto pass others in the longitudinal aisle without difficulty. A personcan “move aside” in a transverse aisle without disturbing the seatedpassengers, allow another person in the longitudinal aisle to pass, andstart moving again once the other person has passed.

Each seat preferably is positioned parallel to the axis of thelongitudinal aisle. Thus all the seats of the series are identical andeach seat is accessed in the same manner, irrespective of the positionof the seat in its row.

A series of aircraft seats according to the invention is well suited tothe case in which each seat is combined with an appurtenance arrangedfacing and at a distance from the seat, with a width less than that ofthe seat. This appurtenance first of all makes it possible to increasethe comfort of the passenger and then it distinguishes the private spaceintended for the passenger from the collective space (here thetransverse aisle) provided for traffic. This appurtenance can be simplya footrest and/or a baggage compartment. It also can be, for example, aunit incorporating a television screen to allow the passenger to view afilm. It is advantageously provided that the appurtenance comprises asupport surface arranged at a height more or less equal to that of thesitting surface of the seat, within about ten centimeters. This supportsurface then can serve, for example, to accommodate a visitor. It alsomay be provided that each seat cooperates with the appurtenance arrangedfacing it to make a bedding surface. The support surface then may serveas a bed end.

In one embodiment, each seat of a series according to the inventioncomprises a sitting surface, a back and two armrests, and the seat issurrounded on its back and armrest side by a lateral wall serving as adivider with a neighboring seat. In this way a divider isolating thepassenger from the neighboring passengers is implemented for eachpassenger.

In the case in which an appurtenance is provided facing each seat, apreferred embodiment provides that each seat comprises a sittingsurface, a back and two armrests, that a lateral wall surrounds eachseat on the back and armrest side thereof, as well as the appurtenancecombined with the seat, and that at least one opening is provided in thelateral wall in order to access the seat. Each passenger then enjoys aprivate module, consisting of the seat, the appurtenance and the lateralwall which completely delimits the space which is intended for him,while isolating him from the other passengers.

In this preferred configuration, each appurtenance can be more or lesscentered on the longitudinal axis of the corresponding seat, and eachlateral wall then preferably has an opening between the seat and theappurtenance on each of its sides situated facing a neighboring seat. Inthis embodiment, all the seats can be identical if it is provided thateach lateral wall has two openings of identical width, one on each sideof the corresponding seat, and a door is provided for closing one or theother of the openings.

In this same configuration in which a lateral wall each time surrounds aseat and the corresponding appurtenance, it also may be provided thatthe lateral wall comprises a first side more or less parallel to thelongitudinal aisle, that the seat and the appurtenance are arrangedagainst this first side, that a second side of the wall, opposite thefirst side, widens out in relation to this first side starting from theappurtenance, and that the opening for accessing the seat is implementedin the second side. This embodiment makes it possible to optimize accessto the seats. The width of the access thus is as large as possible,which of course contributes to the greater comfort of the passengers. Inthis embodiment there are two types of seats: a first type of seats forwhich the first side of the lateral wall, the one which is more or lessparallel to the longitudinal aisle, is to the right of a passengersitting on the seat, and a second type of seats for which the first sideof the wall is to the left of a passenger sitting on the seat. The seatsthen preferably are arranged so that for the seats situated near a cabinwall, the first side of the corresponding wall faces the cabin wall, andin a transverse row of seats, between the cabin wall and thelongitudinal aisle, the types of seats alternate from one seat to theother.

This invention also relates to an aircraft, characterized in that itcomprises at least one set of seats such as described previously.

Other details and advantages of this invention will emerge from thedescription which follows, presented with reference to the attachedschematic drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows sets of seats according to the invention in an aircraftcabin with four seats abreast,

FIG. 2 depicts sets of seats according to the invention in an aircraftcabin with five seats abreast,

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict sets of seats according to the invention with sixseats abreast,

FIGS. 5 and 6 depict sets of seats according to the invention with sevenseats abreast,

FIGS. 7 to 9 depict sets of seats according to the invention with eightseats abreast,

FIG. 10 depicts sets of seats according to the invention with nine seatsabreast,

FIG. 11 depicts sets of seats according to the invention with ten seatsabreast,

FIG. 12 depicts sets of seats according to the invention with elevenseats abreast,

FIG. 13 depicts sets of seats according to the invention with twelveseats abreast,

FIG. 14 shows a configuration identical to that of FIG. 5 but with otherseats, and

FIG. 15 shows, on an enlarged scale, a seat such as those shown in FIGS.1 to 13.

FIGS. 1 to 14 of the drawing each schematically depict an airplane cabinsection. In standard manner, this airplane cabin section is implementedin a fuselage of generally circular cylindrical shape. This cabinsection thus has a longitudinal axis 2 which corresponds more or less tothe axis of revolution of the fuselage. The direction of movement of theairplane in flight is indicated by the arrow 4. The cabin of theairplane has a cabin wall 6 schematized without thickness merely by aline, as well as a floor on which the seats intended to accommodatepassengers are fastened.

Emergency exits (not depicted) are arranged in the cabin in accordancewith regulations to make possible a rapid evacuation of the passengersin this cabin in the event of need. The Figures in the drawing depict,for example, a cabin section arranged between two emergency exits whichfollow one another longitudinally in the direction of the airplane. EachFigure depicts an arrangement of seats in the airplane cabin so as to beable to seat the greatest number of passengers in the cabin sectionunder consideration, while assuring them of substantial comfort.

In all the Figures, it was considered that each passenger had a seat 8equipped, in standard manner, with a sitting surface, a back and twoarmrests. Facing this seat, and at a distance from the latter, there issituated each time an appurtenance 10 which can be, for example, abaggage compartment, a shelf, a footrest, or even a box incorporating,for example, a television screen. This appurtenance preferably comprisesa support surface situated more or less (within 20 cm for example) atthe same height as the sitting surface of the corresponding seat 8. Ifthe seat then is a convertible seat, it can cooperate with this supportsurface to make a bedding surface forming a bed for the passenger. Thisbed then has a stationary portion. This then makes it possible to limitthe moving parts of the convertible seat. The overall bulk of the bedformed in this manner can be reduced.

Each appurtenance 10 is of a width less than the seat. In addition, ifone considers the plane of symmetry of a seat 8, depicted by an axis 12in FIG. 1, the appurtenance 10 is more or less centered on this plane ofsymmetry.

In the examples of embodiment depicted in the drawing, the private spaceintended for each passenger is delimited by a lateral wall 14. This wallsurrounds the seat on the side of the back and two armrests thereof andalso surrounds the appurtenance 10. This lateral wall is, for example,higher on the side of the seat 8 than on the side of the appurtenance10. By way of example, it may be considered, for example, that the wallshave a height ranging between 0.60 m and 1.50 m. An opening is providedin each lateral wall 14 to allow access to the seat 8 locatedtherewithin. This opening, of course, is implemented each time betweenthe seat 8 and the appurtenance 10. Depending on the circumstances, andas explained hereinbelow, one or two openings is/are provided in thelateral wall 14.

FIG. 15 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a module formed from a seat8, its combined appurtenance 10 and a lateral wall 14. In order to haveonly identical modules, two openings 34 are provided in the lateral wall14, each time one between the seat 8 and the appurtenance 10. These twoopenings 34 are identical and symmetrical. When the module is tocomprise only one opening 34, the other opening then is closed by a door36 as suggested by an arrow in FIG. 15. The same door 36, of course,also can close the other opening 34. Generally a single access to themodule is required. Accordingly, therefore, each module generally isequipped with a door 36.

The fastening of the seats 8, the appurtenances 10 and the lateral walls14 on the floor of the cabin is accomplished with the aid of fasteningdevices engaging in the longitudinal rails incorporated into the floor.Such rails are provided in standard manner in aircraft construction andnearly all the airplanes intended for the transport of passengers areequipped with them. These rails extend throughout the length of thecabin and generally have fastening points at regular intervals, forexample every 2.54 cm (or 1 inch).

In the remainder of the specification, it is assumed for all the cabinsections described that they are equipped with modules comprising a seat8, an appurtenance 10 and a lateral wall 14 as described hereinabove.Nonetheless, the invention also can be adapted in the case of singleseats, possibly equipped with an appurtenance and/or a lateral wall. Ofcourse, a second appurtenance, or an appurtenance arranged differently,can be combined with the seat without going beyond the context of theinvention.

FIG. 1 corresponds to an airplane the fuselage of which has a relativelysmall diameter. The presence of five rows of four seats 8 is noted onthis Figure. To access each of these rows, a longitudinal aisle 16 isprovided. This longitudinal aisle 16 divides each row of four seats intotwo half-rows of two seats.

It also is noted in FIG. 1 that the rows of seats, which are arrangedtransversely in relation to the longitudinal axis 2 of the airplane, arearranged so that the passengers in one row, when they are sitting in thecorresponding seats, look in the opposite direction from the passengerssitting in the seats of the preceding or following row. Thus in a firstrow, the passengers sitting in the seats 8 look in the direction ofmovement of the airplane indicated by the arrow 4, while the passengersin the following row are sitting in the opposite direction and looktoward the rear of the airplane, in the opposite direction from arrow 4.Thus, considering two successive rows, it is noted that the seats 8 ofthese rows are either back to back or face to face.

A set 18 of two rows, the seats of which are facing, is consideredbelow. This set 18 has a transverse aisle 20 which separates the tworows of this set and which, of course, intersects the longitudinal aisle16. This transverse aisle 20 in fact is an extension of the longitudinalaisle 16 in order to permit access to the seats of the set 18 which arenot adjacent to the longitudinal aisle 16.

An access to the seats adjacent to the longitudinal aisle 16 can beprovided either directly from this longitudinal aisle 16 or only fromtransverse aisle 20. In the first case, each lateral wall 14 of thecorresponding seats 8 then has an opening on the side with thelongitudinal aisle 16. An opening also can be provided for this lateralwall on the side with the neighboring seat.

In the second case (access only through the transverse aisle 20), anopening is provided in the lateral walls 14 only on the side adjoininganother seat. The passengers located in a seat adjacent to thelongitudinal aisle then are better isolated from the various activitiesof passengers in the longitudinal aisle 16.

Seats are accessed from the transverse aisle 20 by passing between twoappurtenances 10. As indicated hereinabove, these appurtenances 10 areof a lesser width than the corresponding seats 8 and each is centered onthe plane of symmetry of the corresponding seat. In addition, all theseats in the same row are positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis 2of the airplane. Thus a space which is used as a passage for accessingthe two corresponding seats remains between two appurtenances 10.

The cabin section of FIG. 1 comprises two sets 18 such as the onedescribed hereinabove. These two sets are placed one beside the other. Afifth row, corresponding to a half set, has been added to occupy thespace which was still available up to the next emergency exit. Theinterior space of the cabin thus is optimized for placing the greatestpossible number of seats in the space available longitudinally betweentwo successive emergency exits.

The width of each transverse aisle 20 is, of course, sufficient topermit access to the seats which it serves. It advantageously isprovided that the width of these transverse aisles likewise issufficient to allow a cart (commonly called “trolley”), used by thecommercial flight personnel for serving meals and drinks to thepassengers, to go through. This facilitates the serving of meals anddrinks, in particular when the transverse aisles are relatively long(cf. FIGS. 8 to 13), but this also makes it possible to facilitatetraffic in the longitudinal aisle 16. In fact, it thus becomes possibleto have these trolleys pass one another. It then suffices to move onetrolley aside in a transverse aisle and to allow the other to pass inthe longitudinal aisle 16. The movement of passengers and commercialflight personnel also is made easier by virtue of these transverseaisles.

In FIGS. 2 to 13, there again are sets 18 of two rows of seats. TheseFigures correspond to airplanes the fuselage of which has a largerdiameter and the rows of seats comprise, according to the scenarios,from five to twelve seats. Each time there also is a longitudinal aisle16 which divides the rows into “half-rows.” In fact, these “half-rows”are not necessarily the same on one and the other side of thelongitudinal aisle 16. For reasons of symmetry, it may be preferable tohave a more or less identical number of seats on each side of thelongitudinal aisle, but a configuration such as that depicted in FIG. 9,with two seats on one side of the longitudinal aisle 16 and six on theother side for each row is entirely conceivable. It even is possible toprovide only one seat on one side of longitudinal aisle 16.

FIG. 14 shows a variation of embodiment using modules different fromthose shown in FIGS. 2 to 13. These modules likewise comprise a seat 8,an appurtenance 10 and a lateral wall 14 surrounding the seat 8 and theappurtenance 10. In this embodiment, in comparison with FIGS. 1 to 13,the appurtenance 10 of a module is moved in relation to the seat so asto facilitate access to the seat 8 via the corresponding transverseaisle 20. In this embodiment, the edge of an appurtenance 10 is alignedwith an armrest of the seat 8. The lateral wall 14 therefore takes on aform different from that depicted in FIG. 15. This lateral wall nolonger is symmetrical (as in FIG. 15), but has on one side a straightedge that extends parallel to the longitudinal aisle 16 and on the otherside a sloping edge which diverges in relation to the right edge of theappurtenance 10 toward the seat 8.

Thus two types of modules are implemented: a first type for which thestraight edge of the lateral wall 14 is to the right of a passengersitting in the seat 8 and a second type of module for which the straightedge is left of a passenger sitting in the corresponding seat 8.

In FIG. 14, the modules are arranged in the following manner. In a“half-row,” a straight edge of the module is placed along the cabin wall6. Then the other modules of the “half-row” are arranged, alternatingthe type of module. Two neighboring modules therefore are always ofdifferent types. In this manner, V-shaped accesses 22 are created, eachaccess 22 serving two seats 8. In comparison with the accesses to theseats of FIGS. 1 to 13, it is noted that the width of the passage isgreater and passing through to go back to or leave one's seat thus iseasier.

With regard to the opening made in the lateral wall 14 in order toaccess the seat 8, it may be assumed here, for example, that all thesloping edges of the lateral walls 14, and only those, are equipped withan opening for access to the corresponding seat 8. Of course, it will bepossible to provide, in certain configurations, an opening in thestraight side of the lateral wall. Thus, for example, a system can beprovided with two openings and a door as depicted in FIG. 15. In thebasic configuration, the door then closes the opening implemented in thestraight side of the corresponding lateral wall. Then when two peopleare traveling together, they can settle into two neighboring modulesthat are in contact with one another by way of their straight sides.Once they are settled, they each can move the door closing the openingon the straight side of their module in order to close the opening onthe sloping side of their module. They thus create a dual moduleisolated from the other passengers.

In all these formats, it is noted that it is possible to place a largenumber of seats in a given space. This is explained in particular by thepresence of a single longitudinal aisle. For a given cabin section, itis possible to place as many modules as described hereinabove andallowing a passenger to travel lying down, as merely reclining seats notmaking it possible to assume a lying-down position and arranged instandard manner, that is, in rows, all seats being positioned in thesame direction and with longitudinal aisles, to prevent the passengerswho are moving about from having to apologize to one (or more)neighboring passenger(s). This invention then makes it possible, incomparison with the aircraft of the prior art, either to have the samenumber of passengers travel, but in greater comfort, or a greater numberof passengers with the same comfort. With small airplanes (FIGS. 1 to4), the gain in passengers, traveling under the same comfort conditions,for the same cabin section, is less significant than for airplanes oflarger size (FIGS. 8 to 13).

All the configurations depicted have the advantage of facilitatingtraffic on board the airplane. Serving meals and drinks can be performedmore easily and in most cases it is possible to avoid bottlenecks.

The configurations depicted in the drawing also have the advantage ofbeing able to be adapted to all types of existing and future airplanes.The number of seats in each row is deduced from the width that onewishes to allot to the seats and from the minimum width of thelongitudinal aisle. In addition, it is possible to easily combinedifferent comfort classes. The same longitudinal aisle thus can servetransverse rows which do not all have the same number of seats. The samelongitudinal aisle thus can serve first-class seats in one portion ofthe plane, then business-class seats and finally the economy-classseats.

This invention is not limited to the embodiments described hereinaboveby way of nonrestrictive examples, but also relates to all thevariations accessible to the person skilled in the art in the context ofthe claims hereinbelow.

1-12. (Canceled).
 13. A set of aircraft seats in an aircraft cabincomprising: two rows of seats arranged transversely in relation to alongitudinal axis of the cabin in which they are located, a singlelongitudinal aisle allowing access to the transverse rows, wherein thetwo transverse rows are arranged opposite one another, a transverseaisle separates the two rows of seats and in each row of seats, at leastone seat is located on one side of the longitudinal aisle, and at leasttwo seats are located on the other side of the longitudinal aisle.
 14. Aset of aircraft seats according to claim 13, wherein each seat ispositioned parallel to an axis of the longitudinal aisle.
 15. A set ofaircraft seats according to claim 13, further comprising, combined witheach seat, an appurtenance arranged facing and at a distance from theseat, with a lesser width than that of the seat.
 16. A set of aircraftseats according to claim 15, wherein the appurtenance comprises asupport surface arranged at a height more or less equal to that of asitting surface of the seat, within about ten centimeters.
 17. A set ofaircraft seats according to claim 15, wherein each seat cooperates withthe appurtenance arranged facing it to make a bedding surface.
 18. A setof aircraft seats according to claim 13, wherein each seat comprises asitting surface, a back and two armrests, and the seat is surrounded onits back and armrest side by a lateral wall serving as a divider with aneighboring seat.
 19. A set of aircraft seats according to claim 15,wherein each seat comprises a sitting surface, a back, and two armrests,and a lateral wall surrounds each seat on its back and armrest side, aswell as the appurtenance combined with the seat, and at least oneopening is provided in the lateral wall for accessing the seat.
 20. Aset of aircraft seats according to claim 19, wherein each appurtenanceis more or less centered on the longitudinal axis of the correspondingseat, and each lateral wall has an opening between the seat and theappurtenance on each of its sides located facing a neighboring seat. 21.A set of aircraft seats according to claim 20, wherein each lateral wallhas two openings of identical width, one on each side of thecorresponding seat, and a door is provided to close one of the twoopenings.
 22. A set of aircraft seats according to claim 19, wherein thelateral wall comprises a first side more or less parallel to thelongitudinal aisle, the seat and the appurtenance are arranged againstthis first side, wherein a second side of the wall, opposite the firstside, widens out in relation to this first side starting from theappurtenance, and wherein the opening for accessing the seat isimplemented in the second side.
 23. A set of aircraft seats according toclaim 22, comprising a first type of seat for which the first side ofthe lateral wall, that is more or less parallel to the longitudinalaisle, is to the right of a passenger sitting in the seat, and a secondtype of seat for which the first side of the wall is left of a passengersitting in the seat, wherein the seats are arranged so that for theseats near a cabin wall, the first side of the corresponding wall facesthe cabin wall and, in a transverse row of seats, between the cabin walland the longitudinal aisle, the types of seats alternate from one seatto the other.
 24. An aircraft, comprising at least one set of seatsaccording to claim 13.